Improvement in fire-escapes



2 Sheets-Sheer, 1.

I. DJOROSS. Fire-Escape.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYxS'.

N. PETERS. FHOTOLITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

, 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. I. D. GROSS. Fire-Escape.

No. 200,260. Patented Feb. 12 I878.

Y INVENTOR. av

N. PETERS. PHOTWUTNOGRAFHER, WASRINGTOMD 0.

W ATTORNEYS;

1 same,

UNITED .P NTOFFIQR I RA"n o nossfor RENO, NEVADA.

IMPROVEMENT: IN FlR E-ESCAP ES.

Specification forming part of Letters-Patent No. 200,260, dated February12, 18 78; application filed V: July 28, 1877'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRA D. GROSS, of Reno, in the county of Washoe andState of Nevada, have invented a new and valuable Improvement inFireAlarms and Safety-Ladders; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing isa full, clear, and exact description of the construction andoperation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is arepresentation of a perspective view of myfire-alarm and safety-ladder as applied; and Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 aredetails thereof.

My present invention relates to certain improvements upon a combinedfire-alarm and safety-ladder for which Letters Patent were granted to meJuly 24, 1877, No. 193,489: and it consists in means for releasing thedoors, and the devices for holding the ladder from running down and forreleasing the all as hereinafter more fully set forth.

The annexed drawings, is made, fully illustrate my invention.

A represents the frame work, with the arched side pieces B B formingbearings for the shaft 0. D D are the hinged doors, thrown outward bysprings 60 a, and, when closed, held together by the spring-catch E.

The ladder is composed of suitable rounds or cross bars G G, secured towoven-wire bands G G, and provided with a heavy crossbar or roller, G atthe bottom. This ladder is connected to the shaft 0 by means of twosmooth pulleys or wheels, G (3 secured on the shaft, and each providedwith a recess, 1), in its periphery. In these recesses the ends of thewire bands G are fastened by means of bolts or pins cl d, substantiallyas shown.

One end of the shaft 0 is made square, for the application of a crank towind up the ladder, while the other end of said shaft is formed withscrew-threads, and has a nut, f, placed thereon, with a spiral {sprin g,e, placed between said nut and the arched side piece. H is the pivotedarm to hold said nut while the ladder runs down to contract the springand act as a gradual brake. On the outer side of to which reference 1the pulley or wheel 0 is a projecting pin, 2', which for each revolutionof the shaft 0, while the ladder runs down once, operates the bellhammerI to strike the bell or gong J. v

The pulley or wheel (3 is formed with a ratchet-wheel, h, into whichtakes a pawl or dog, L, to hold the ladder from running down. This dogmoves horizontally in or on guides in the frame and side piece, and itsend is turned downward to engage with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel h,the pawl being drawn or forced inward by means of a spring, m. From thepawl or dog L extends an arm or plate, L, toward the door or cover onthat side of the apparatus. 7

The spring-catch E is applied to this door, and an angular shaft, S,placed in bearings below said catch, inside of the door, for releasingthe catch. To the inner arm of this shaft is pivoted a lever, M, whichhas a projecting pin, 8, to fit into a notch, 00, in said arm, when thelever m forms a prolongation of the lever-arm S.

To close the apparatus, the arm H is thrown up and the bell-hammer Iheld raised from the bell by a pin, 19. The lever M is under the arm L,holding the dog L away from the ratchet-wheel; or it may be turned onits pivot, so as to be above said plate, when the dog will take into thesaid ratchet-wheel.

By means of a crank on the end of the shaft 0 the ladder is thenWOlllld. up, and the pawl holds it in this position. The nut is then runout to the end of the shaft, the arm H turned down on the nut, and thebell-hammer let down by moving the pin 1). The right-hand door or coveris then closed, when the end of the lever M will stand at right angleswith and close to the outer edge of the plate L. The other cover or dooris then also closed, the two being fastened by the spring-catch E.

R is the wire or cord running down in eyebolts fastened on the outsideof the building, and its upper end attached to the. end of the lever M.By pulling on this wire or cord the lever M turns the shaft S, whichreleases the spring-catch E, when the springs a throw the doors orcovers D open. In so doing the lever M comes-behind the plate or arm L,and releases the .pawl or dog L from the ratchet-i. 2., Thepombinationwiththe ladderangl the wheel h, allowing the ladder to ,pas SidQWnf,pulleys ,tdwhichiit Iis attached,ofitheratchet and the alarm be sounded,in the same manner wheel h, spring-dog- L, with arm or plate L, the asdescribed in my former patent above re lever M, and swinging door D,substantially ferred to. as and for the purposes herein set forth.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure 7 In testimony that I claimthe above I have by Letters Patent, is hereunto subscribed my name inthe presence 1. The combination, with the spring-doors of two witnesses.D D and catch E, of the angular shafts, hava ing anotch, w, on its innerarm, and the lever M, pivoted thereto and provided with the pinWitnesses:

s, substantially as and for the purposes herein JOHN MYERS, set forth.W. H. WIESTER.

IRA D. GROSS.

